Eee-Box: Mini Desktop Doubles RAM in its Linux Version

The enclosure, at 8.5" x 7" x 1", is reminiscent of a thin client; Asus calls its mini desktop a "one-liter device." The Eee Box B202, with an Intel Atom N270 CPU at 1.6 GHz, is available at around $300 for the Windows XP version with 1 GByte RAM and an 80-Gbyte hard drive. The Linux/Easy OS version, for about the same price, has twice the power at 2 Gbyte RAM and a 160-Gbyte drive. The box weighs 6.6 lbs, comes in black or white, and can be placed on a small stand or tucked behind the monitor. An Intel 945GSE graphics chipset is inside. The device is specified to emit no more than 26 db and comes with 65-Watt power adapter. Networking is over WLAN 802.11b/g/n and Gigabit Ethernet. Front ports include two USBs and a card reader for countless external formats. Rear ports include a digital video interface, analog and S/PIDF audio line-out, and another two USBs. Keyboard and mouse are optional. The device is available since July in the US, the European market has to wait until October. (Mathias Huber)